In the past I have often been asked to answer
interview questions for students writing papers on careers.
Below is a list of the most commonly asked questions, and my
answers--
which are my personal opinion, based on my professional
experience.

What type of
schooling do you need to become a forensic anthropologist?

Generally the Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in
anthropology is required for admittance into graduate school,
where the Master's of Arts in anthropology (MA) is earned,
followed by the Doctorate of Philosphy degree in anthropology
(Ph.D.).

Occasionally, if one has a BA or BS (Bachelor of
Science) in another field but the equivalent of a minor in
anthropology has been earned, admittance to a graduate program in
anthropology is quite possible. You need to consult with the
specific anthropology department you to which you are applying.

While there are some forensic anthropologists
with the MA degree, most do have their Ph.D.'s.

How long does it
take to earn the degrees required?

The typical time frame for the BA/BS degree is
four years. Master's degrees average about two to three years,
and the Ph.D. varies tremendously--some finish in three to four
years, others take five or more years. The reason it varies
depends on multiple variables--finances, nature of the
dissertation project (research--collecting data, analyzing data,
writing can is a lengthy process that varies depending on what
type of research is being conducted), etc.

Is there a faster,
easier way to become a forensic anthropologist?

No. Anthropology is a vital component of forensic
anthropology and one cannot become a qualified, competent
forensic anthropologist without a strong understanding of the
whole of anthropology, and most importantly the subfield of
physical anthropology.

Not good. The demand for large numbers of these
specialists is not great (a good thing, though. Who wants so many
unknown dead people in our society?).

Most forensic anthropologists are Ph.D.'s who
work in academia (i.e., as professors at colleges and
universities). Full time consulting in forensic anthropology is
the exception, not the norm. Those forensic anthropologists who
are professors teach, conduct skeletal research, and consult on
cases of unknown identity.

Those forensic anthropologists who do full time
consulting typically work for the Central Identification
Laboratory, Hawaii (known in the field as CILHI, pronounced
"seal-hi"), or for a medical examiner office, or for
state and or federal government agencies. Many work in human
rights cases--identifying victims of crimes against humanity,
overseas in Europe (Bosnia, Croatia) and in Latin America. Again,
these folks are rare.

What kind of
training/experience do you need to become a forensic
anthropologist?

Aside from the academics, one should have
adequate laboratory experience--be able to identify human versus
nonhuman bone, bone fragments, and teeth. One should be able to
employ the various methods used to determine sex, age, ancestry,
stature, and pathology (pathology is trauma or disease).
Experience like this is gained through studying human osteology,
skeletal biology--of skeletal materials spanning a wide range of
geographical locations and time frames.

Field experience in archaeology will help provide
the skills used in exhumation (removing bodies from graves) and
in the proper collection of the remains.

Experience with local law enforcement practices
is also a must. Photography and radiography (x-raying) is also
beneficial. Courses in human anatomy/physiology, genetics, and
statistics are a must.

What is the salary
range for a forensic anthropologist?

I loathe this question because there's no direct
answer. The salary range varies, much like with any other
professional. Salary depends on where you're employed
(university, government agency, medical examiner office, etc.),
how much experience you have, geographic location (some areas are
more/less expensive to live than others) and so on and so on.

What is a typical
day like?

For me, as a professor and consultant, a typical
day can be anything from teaching class, working on a forensic
case, attending meetings unrelated to anthropology (more
administrative--university business, not academics or forensics),
meeting with students, supervising projects, conducting a
workshop for law enforcement, etc.